APWU President Cliff Guffey announced that the union and the Postal Service have agreed to extend the Collective Bargaining Agreement until Tuesday, Nov. 23, at noon.  The contract was scheduled to expire Nov. 20, at noon ET.

“We do not have a new contract,” Guffey said, “but we believe there is still potential to negotiate an agreement. The union and management will continue to discuss the topics that remain in dispute.

“Throughout the collective bargaining process, the APWU has sought to protect our members’ jobs and to strengthen the Postal Service,” the union president said. 

“Every proposal we have made to preserve jobs for our members will also benefit the USPS, because APWU members can perform the work more efficiently and less expensively than subcontractors,” he said.

“Our proposals are good for the Postal Service and for the American people.”

The terms of the 2006-2010 Collective Bargaining Agreement remain in full force and effect until a new agreement is reached, either through negotiation or arbitration.

Under the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970, if the union and management fail to reach agreement on a successor contract and do not agree on an alternate procedure, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) appoints a mediator.  If agreement is not reached within 60 days of the expiration of the contract, both parties submit all outstanding issues to binding arbitration.

Guffey said the negotiating team is hopeful about the possibility of reaching an agreement.

“Important issues are at stake that will affect the more than 220,000 postal employees the APWU represents,” Guffey said. “The negotiating team is committed to achieving a beneficial contract, and asks for the continued support of union members.”